Short answer: Roblox Studio does not run on ChromeOS. Roblox says it plainly in its education FAQ: "Roblox Studio cannot run on Chromebooks or mobile devices such as smartphones." You can still build on a Chromebook in three ways: run Studio under Linux with Vinegar (only on an Intel or AMD Chromebook with enough memory), control a Windows PC or Mac you already own, or rent a Windows cloud PC and open Studio on that.
This guide goes through all three, with the limits of each.
Why Studio does not run on a Chromebook
Roblox Studio is a desktop program. The Studio setup page calls it "a free application available on Windows and Mac", and the only installers are for those two systems.
The Roblox app you get on a Chromebook is a different thing. Roblox's Chromebook help article explains that it "uses the Android version of our Mobile App". That app plays games well, but it has no Studio inside it.
In 2026 Roblox started testing Build, a creation tab inside the mobile app. Roblox describes it as something that "extends Roblox Studio ... into the Roblox app", but it is not Studio, and in September 2026 its public alpha ran only in New Zealand, Serbia and Singapore (Roblox, RDC 2026). If you are in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK or Germany, you cannot use it yet.
Option 1: Linux on your Chromebook with Vinegar
Most Chromebooks can run a Linux environment next to ChromeOS: turn on the Linux development environment in the ChromeOS settings. Inside it you can run Vinegar, an open source launcher that its makers describe as "a fast and robust bootstrapper for Roblox Studio". It is not made by Roblox: the project states that "VinegarHQ is not affiliated with Roblox Corporation".
What you need, from the Vinegar installation page:
- An x86-64 processor, so an Intel or AMD Chromebook. Chromebooks with an ARM chip (MediaTek, Snapdragon) are out.
- 3 GB of memory for Vinegar itself.
- OpenGL 4.4 support.
The memory rule rules out a lot of cheaper models. A Vinegar collaborator explained in issue #831 that 4 GB Chromebooks fail because "less than 3 gigabytes are allocated to Crostini", the Linux environment of ChromeOS. Plan on 8 GB.
Two more things to know. Roblox does not support Linux officially: its help center says "Roblox is not supported on Linux", so if Studio breaks after an update, you wait for the Vinegar maintainers. And graphics inside the Chromebook's Linux environment are slower than in ChromeOS itself, so large places with a lot of lighting can feel heavy.
Vinegar is distributed on Flathub as org.vinegarhq.Vinegar. Follow the install steps on the Vinegar site rather than a random video, because they change with new releases.
Option 2: Control a Windows PC or Mac you already own
If there is a Windows PC or Mac at home, you can run Studio on that machine and use the Chromebook as the screen. Google's own Chrome Remote Desktop works for this: "You can set up remote access to your Mac, Windows, or Linux computer", and it runs in the Chrome browser.
This is free and works well on a fast home connection. The catch: the PC at home has to stay on and online the whole time, and when you work from school or a train, everything you see travels over your home internet's upload.
Option 3: A Windows cloud PC
The third route is a Windows computer in a datacenter. Studio runs on that machine, and your Chromebook only shows the screen through a remote desktop app. Nothing has to stay on at home.
At Space-Node we offer this as a Roblox VPS, in the Netherlands, connected with RustDesk or AnyDesk (both have apps that run on Chromebooks):
- Studio Starter (€19.99 a month): a virtual machine with 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM and 80 GB NVMe. It has no graphics card, so Studio renders on the processor. That is fine for scripting, UI work and smaller places. Roblox Player itself does not start on it, because Roblox blocks virtual machines without a graphics card.
- Roblox Cloud PC (€49.99 a month): a dedicated mini PC with 16 to 32 GB RAM and integrated graphics. Studio runs faster on it, and you can also play your published game in Roblox Player on the same machine.
Prices include VAT and you pay monthly.
Which option fits
- Intel or AMD Chromebook with 8 GB or more: try Vinegar first. It costs nothing, and you will know within an hour whether Studio runs well enough.
- There is a good PC or Mac at home: use Chrome Remote Desktop.
- ARM Chromebook, 4 GB model, or no PC at home: a cloud PC is the only route that works today.
FAQ
Can I download Roblox Studio on a Chromebook?
No. Roblox only offers Studio for Windows and macOS. The Roblox app in the Google Play Store on a Chromebook is the Android game app, without Studio.
Is Roblox Studio free?
Yes. Roblox calls it "a free application available on Windows and Mac". You only pay for the computer you run it on, whether that is your own PC or a cloud PC.
How much RAM does Roblox Studio need?
Roblox lists 3 GB as the minimum and 8 GB as recommended. Testing a game in Studio takes more, because Studio then runs the server and the client at the same time. More in our guide to Roblox Studio system requirements.
Can I use Roblox Studio on an iPad instead?
Not Studio itself. The iPad has the same limit as a Chromebook: the Roblox app plays games, and Build is only in a small test in a few countries. A cloud PC or a remote PC works from an iPad the same way as from a Chromebook.
Sources
- Roblox Creator Hub: Studio setup and Education FAQ
- Roblox Support: Roblox on Chromebooks and system requirements
- Roblox Newsroom: RDC 2026
- Vinegar: installation and issue #831
- Google: Chrome Remote Desktop help